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Monthly Archives: September 2017

Old Marylebone Town Hall will re-open for weddings in early 2018. This historic building on the Marylebone Road saw 3 Beatles’ weddings: Paul married Linda here in March 1969; Ringo married Barbara in April 1981; and Paul married Nancy in October 2011. Many Beatles fans have got married there too – including yours truly, who married Irina there in June 2004!

The building has been closed for a few years for complete renovation, and has just re-opened with part of it being the London Business School. The Registry Office will re-open early next year.

The Psychedelic Love Orchestra are an award winning ensemble. Created to augment The Brighton Beach Boys when performing The Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, through adding a full string and brass section, for an annual appearance in The Brighton Festival.

After performing ‘Pet Sounds’ as part of International Beatleweek at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, in 2016, The Psychedelic Love Orchestra returned to perform these two Beatles albums in 2017. This is the debut London performance for the orchestra. In 1967 the Beatles released two of the iconic albums of the sixties, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, followed by ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, originally screened on Boxing day. To celebrate these 50th anniversaries, the Psychedelic Love Orchestra will play both albums in their entirety.

Members of the Psychedelic Love Orchestra have worked with Nick Cave, Stomp, John Martyn, Belle and Sebastian, Oasis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra amongst many others.

The concert is at Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush, on Sunday November 12th. I will be going!

After sell-out dates this summer, London’s Swinging 60s Experience Tours are back at the Albert Hall over the next three months before rolling-out with a regular weekly schedule from March 2018.
Exploring the era-defining significance and impact of the 1960s, expressed through some of the greatest music and legendary
performers of the 20th-century, these immersive tours have been transporting passengers from all over the world, back in time via the sights, sounds and smells of Swinging 60s London.
The experience begins with a one-hour tour of historic 60s locations on a vintage double-decker London bus. To a backdrop of 60s music and live commentary, the tour travels down the Kings Road, Chelsea passing many famous locations including the Royal Court Hotel in Sloane Square, once the London base of The Beatles; the Chelsea Drug Store, immortalised by The Rolling Stones; Mary Quant’s boutique Bazaar where the Mini Skirt was created and the architectural splendor of The Pheasantry, once owned by Eric
Clapton during his time with Cream. The tour continues past homes once owned by 60s music legends, socialites and other notable figures on Edith Grove and Cheyne Walk on its way back to the most iconic music venue in the World.
On arrival back at the Royal Albert Hall, passengers are greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable guide before embarking on a
fascinating one-hour journey throughout the Hall where they’ll hear about the pivotal roll it played in the era’s counter culture. Inaddition to the Queen’s Box, the tours include many areas that are usually off-limit to the public, including the stunning auditorium
that welcomed The Beatles and The Rolling Stones on the same night and staged Bob Dylan’s electric transition.
A delicious two-course lunch option from an Italian-inspired set menu created by the Hall’s caterers – Rhubarb is also available after the bus tour at the exquisite Verdi Restaurant.

Billy Joel joined Paul McCartney onstage last night at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York

Joel joined McCartney’s band at centerstage for “Get Back,” occupying the Billy Preston role with his bluesy electric piano solo. The singer-songwriter stuck around behind the keys for a rousing take on “Birthday,” which McCartney dedicated to “anybody who’s got a birthday – and also anybody who’s got a birthday any time this year.”

There are only 995 first editions available, all signed and numbered by the curators, artists and authors.
There are also 50 Lumejet ultra high definition super fan box set editions available. Finally there is The Beatles In Stereoscopic 3D Archival promotional print – 1st edition, sized at 12×20 inches. Rolled and delivered in tube.

‘Abbey anniversary’ to the Abbey Road album – released on September 26th 1969.
On September 26th 1994, all those involved in the making of the album ( apart from the Beatles unfortunately) gathered at Abbey Road Studios to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album.

Here is a picture I took that day – from left to right Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein, Jeff Jarratt, Ken Townsend and George Martin

Sir George Martin on the steps of Abbey Road Studios – September 26th 1994A rather famous album cover :>)

PBS today announced the U.S. broadcast premiere of Academy Award®-winner Ron Howard’s authorized and highly acclaimed Emmy® Award and GRAMMY Award®-winning documentary film about The Beatles’ phenomenal early career. THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK – THE TOURING YEARS premieres Saturday, November 25, 8:00-10:30 pm ET (check local listings ) on PBS. The film will be followed by an encore broadcast of SGT. PEPPER’S MUSICAL REVOLUTION, 10:30-Midnight ET on PBS, which continues the story beyond The Beatles’ touring years, during the months the band spent creating Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a groundbreaking masterwork that became popular music’s most universally acclaimed album. https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/PBS-Airs-Ron-Howards-THE-BEATLES-EIGHT-DAYS-A-WEEK-THE-TOURING-YEARS-1125-20170925#

A rare, unreleased demo of The Beatles song “What Goes On” is currently on sale through a listing on eBay, via the website Parlogram. This 1963 demo version predates the Beatles recording sung by Ringo Starr and released on the Rubber Soul album in 1965. This earlier version was sung by John Lennon, who wrote the song, and features Lennon singing different lyrics. According to an auction house spokesman, the demo also has Lennon on acoustic guitar and Paul McCartney on harmony on the chorus; a few piano notes are audible in the background toward the end of the track. An excerpt of the recording can be heard on the eBay auction listing. The sale will end Oct. 1. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7973608/beatles-auction-what-goes-on-unreleased

Symphonic Beatles: timeless music recreated for a full symphonic orchestra.

30th November 2017

Experience The Beatles as never before – with, the sound, the passion and the raw excitement of their timeless music in this spectacular concert featuring The London Concert Orchestra, conducted by Alan Chircop, together with acclaimed band, guest singers and chorus from the West End and beyond.
Enjoy classics hits, including: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE – HEY JUDE – SERGEANT PEPPER – LET IT BE – HELP – A DAY IN A LIFE – GET BACK – LADY MADONNA – YESTERDAY – STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER – A HARD DAYS NIGHT – LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS.. and many, many more !
With full orchestral arrangements, imaginatively fused together with rock and pop, tonight we pay tribute to the world’s biggest band, The Beatles, celebrating over 50 years of ageless songs as well as marking the 50th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper.
National Broadcaster Mike Read gives a wonderful narrative backdrop to this nostalgic epic celebration which takes you through the Beatles’ musical legendary history. The grand finale brings the orchestra, choir and guest singers together for the climax of a stunning night of music. Symphonic Beatles is truly a memorable occasion.

On 25th September 1967, the Beatles began editing their TV film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, at Norman’s Film Productions on Old Compton Street, Soho. The editing was done by Roy Benson, who had also worked on a ‘Hard Day’s Night’ and ‘Help!’ The editing was due to take a week, but actually took about 11 weeks. As there was not narrative to the film, it could be cut in any way the Beatles wanted – and often they couldn’t agree on how it should be done.

In the evening, the Beatles went to EMI Studios, Abbey Road, to record ‘Fool on the Hill’ for the new film. Among those watching the proceedings was Yoko Ono, attending what was probably her first Beatles recording session. Her presence rather destroys the myth that John and Yoko barely saw each other between their first meeting in November 1966, and Yoko coming over to Kenwood in May 1968.

The Beatles recording Fool on the HillJohn and Yoko at the recording of Fool on the Hill